Mental health risks of self-objectification: A review of the empirical evidence for disordered eating, depressed mood, and sexual dysfunction.

Abstract

This chapter sets out to review the existing empirical evidence demonstrating the mental health risks associated with self-objectification in women. In particular, it evaluates the research evidence for objectification theory’s (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997) contention that self-objectification leads to a number of negative behavioral and experiential consequences (increase in both shame and anxiety about the body and appearance, decrease in awareness of internal bodily states, and decrease in the experience of peak motivational states or flow), which in turn accumulate to put women at increased risk of three particular mental health disorders: eating disorders, depression, and sexual dysfunction. These serious clinical conditions are experienced disproportionately by women. It should be noted, however, that many women suffer milder forms of these conditions in negative body image, disordered eating, depressed mood, and low sexual satisfaction on a daily basis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)